By Josh Lowden
(San Dimas)- Most teams drive the ball down the field using short to mid-range plays and are lucky to get an occasional big play. San Dimas, however, made big plays as if they were normal in a 56-20 rout of the Maranatha Minutemen on Friday night.
To start their first series, Angel Gonzales takes a carry from the San Dimas 25 and goes 40 yards down the field. Two plays later, Dillion Corona grabs a 15 yard reception before Codee Watts ran it 25 yards for a touchdown.
That would be San Dimas’ longest drive of the first half.
The Maranatha offense struggled to find its rhythm, going three and out in six out of their seven first half series.
Getting the ball back at their own 18 yard line after a Maranatha punt, the Saints made their drive short and sweet. Corona took the handoff and ran it 31 yards down the field to set up a first down at their own 49 yard line. Theo Darlington took the next carry and ran 49 yards for a touchdown.
Kevin Kolbeck added to the scoring fest. On first down from the SD 40, Watts found Kevin Kolbeck wide open in the middle of the field and he ran it in 60 yards for the score.
Minutes later, Kolbeck returned a punt 83 yards for a score.
Angel Gonzales scored on a 20 yard run to close out the first half.
Maranatha was finally able to score in the second half under a running clock. Andrew Elfers, who was contained most of the night, connected twice with Rj Straker on 75 and 36 yards, both for touchdowns.
The San Dimas defense did a great job guarding the pass, only giving Elfers 12 completions on 30 attempts.
Demarquis Lawson and Darlington also contributed second half touchdowns for the Saints.
“I thought the kids played good, we came out hot,” said Saints Head Coach Bill Zernickow. “Our fakes and our deception helped us getting guys wide open.”
Next week, San Dimas (8-4) hosts Monrovia (10-2) in the CIF Mid-Valley Division Semi-finals.
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